Home Office

Immigration: Windrush Generation

Bell Ribeiro-Addy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department has taken to identify how many people who belong to the Windrush generation have been wrongly prevented from re-entry to the UK after an overseas visit.

Priti Patel: The Home Office is undertaking a significant programme of engagement and communication activity to raise awareness of the support available to members of the Windrush generation who have been impacted, including those who have been wrongly prevented from re-entry to the UK after an overseas visit.We have hosted over 100 engagement and outreach events across the country and are undertaking a programme of online engagement events. More information can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/windrush-engagement-events. We will shortly be launching a national advertising and grassroots campaign to encourage more people to come forward and have worked closely with a range of stakeholders with excellent community links to raise awareness. We are also developing plans with our British Embassies and High Commissions for additional bespoke activity in priority countries overseas.Unfortunately, the Home Office does not hold data on the number of people who belong to the Windrush generation who have been prevented from re-entry to the UK after an overseas visit. However, the Department has conducted a historical review of Caribbean Commonwealth nationals, born before 1 January 1973, removed or detained since 2002, to identify those whose records indicate they came to the UK before 1973. The Home Office wrote to the Home Affairs Select Committee on 21 August 2018 with the initial findings of this review and has provided regular updates to the committee. This correspondence can be found at:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/correspondence-on-the-work-of-the-home-office-windrushAnyone who is a member of the Windrush generation and thinks they have been wrongly denied re-entry to the UK can apply to the Windrush Taskforce for a returning residents visa, and to the Windrush Compensation Scheme for compensation, should they wish to.

Department for Education

Children: Computers

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many laptops have been distributed to children learning from home in each local authority; and what the average time taken was to distribute those laptops.

Nick Gibb: The Government has provided laptops and tablets to disadvantaged children who would otherwise not have access and are preparing for examinations in year 10, receiving support from a social worker, or are a care leaver. Where care leavers, children with a social worker at secondary school and children in year 10 do not have internet connections, the Government has also provided 4G wireless routers.The Department has delivered laptops, tablets and 4G wireless routers to local authorities and academy trusts based on the Department’s estimates of the number of eligible children that do not have access to a device. Local authorities and academy trusts are best placed to identify children and young people who need devices and prioritise their needs.The Department has published information about how many laptops, tablets and 4G wireless routers have been delivered to local authorities and academy trusts in total, which can be viewed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/laptops-tablets-and-4g-wireless-routers-progress-data. As of the end of June, over 202,000 laptops and tablets and over 47,000 4G wireless routers had been delivered to local authorities and academy trusts. It is taking, on average, 1.3 days from receipt of an order to the devices being dispatched to a local authority or academy trust.The Department will be publishing data on devices delivered to each local authority and academy trust shortly.

Education: ICT

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of (a) laptops and (b) digital devices ordered by local authorities have been distributed; and if he will publish that data by local education authority.

Nick Gibb: The Government has provided laptops and tablets to disadvantaged children who would otherwise not have access and are preparing for examinations in year 10, receiving support from a social worker, or are a care leaver. Where care leavers, children with a social worker at secondary school and children in year 10 do not have internet connections, the Government has also provided 4G wireless routers.The Department has delivered laptops, tablets and 4G wireless routers to local authorities and academy trusts based on the Department’s estimates of the number of eligible children that do not have access to a device. Local authorities and academy trusts are best placed to identify children and young people who need devices and prioritise their needs.The Department has published information about how many laptops, tablets and 4G wireless routers have been delivered to local authorities and academy trusts in total, which can be viewed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/laptops-tablets-and-4g-wireless-routers-progress-data.As of the end of June, over 202,000 laptops and tablets and over 47,000 4G wireless routers had been delivered to local authorities and academy trusts.The Department will be publishing data on devices delivered to each local authority and academy trust shortly.

Cabinet Office

Public Sector: Contracts

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the potential cost to the public purse of fraud or error in contracts awarded under the Regulation 32 (2)(c) exemptions of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 during the covid-19 outbreak.

Julia Lopez: Further to the answers given to PQs 64368 and 64369 on 6 July 2020, the Government is clear that being able to procure at speed is critical during the covid-19 response. I have taken note of the Hon. member's letter to the Chancellor of Duchy of Lancaster, sent 18 March 2020, in which she referenced the "desperate need for more to be done and faster".The Hon Member also sent the Cabinet Office a list of companies which the Hon Member asked the Government to contact in relation to the procurement of PPE. I can confirm that the Government conducts diligence before contracting with parties, including when it makes use of exemptions under the Public Contracts Regulations. I note that other administrations, including the Welsh Government, have made use of "specific flexibilities of the procurement rules at this time".

Department of Health and Social Care

Pain: Clinics

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the reopening of pain clinics for sufferers of complex regional pain syndrome.

Helen Whately: We continue to work closely with the National Health Service and partners and guidance has already been issued to the NHS on the process of starting to restore urgent non-COVID-19 services in a safe way, with excellence in infection prevention and control as a key principle.The approach to the reset of services, including pain clinics, will be flexed at local level according to capacity and demand in different parts of the country and will be a gradual process.

General Dental Council: Coronavirus

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the efficiency and effectiveness of the General Dental Council during the covid-19 outbreak.

Helen Whately: Holding answer received on 02 July 2020



The General Dental Council (GDC) is the body responsible for the regulation of dentists and dental care practitioners in the United Kingdom and is independent of Government.The GDC’s Council sets the organisation’s strategy and monitors its effectiveness and efficiency on an ongoing basis. The GDC published its Annual Report and Accounts for 2019 on 18 June 2020. Alongside the retrospective view of the GDC’s performance, in light of the impact of COVID-19, updated information was provided where appropriate.The Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (PSA) carries out annual reviews of all the healthcare statutory regulators. The PSA will shortly be undertaking the next review of the GDC for the period 2019-20 with a view to publishing its report later this year. The review will take account of the GDC’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Dental Services: Coronavirus

Christian Wakeford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment the Government has made of the potential merits of postponing the dental retention fee paid by dentists during the covid-19 outbreak.

Helen Whately: The General Dental Council (GDC) is an independent regulator and is therefore responsible for determining the level of the annual fee it charges for registration.On 20 May 2020, the Chair of the GDC wrote to all registrants to advise that the GDC would not be making any changes to its Annual Retention Fee, or introducing an emergency payment by instalments scheme, in response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.The GDC uses the income from fees to carry out its statutory duties. In October 2019, the GDC reduced its Annual Retention Fee for all dental professionals following a strategic review of its operating processes and costs and a public consultation on its three-year costed plan.

General Dental Council: Fees and Charges

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the equity of the level of the Annual Retention Fee practising dentists paid to the General Dentistry Council (a) during the covid-19 outbreak and (b) for the remainder of the 2020-21 financial year.

Helen Whately: The General Dental Council (GDC) is an independent regulator and is therefore responsible for determining the level of the annual fee it charges for registration.On 20 May 2020, the Chair of the GDC wrote to all registrants to advise that the GDC would not be making any changes to its Annual Retention Fee, or introducing an emergency payment by instalments scheme, in response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.The GDC uses the income from fees to carry out its statutory duties. In October 2019, the GDC reduced its Annual Retention Fee for all dental professionals following a strategic review of its operating processes and costs and a public consultation on its three-year costed plan.

Coronavirus: Health Services

Dame Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what (a) research his Department has commissioned on and (b) what medical advice is available for people suffering post-covid-19 illnesses.

Helen Whately: Holding answer received on 06 July 2020



The Department invests over £1 billion a year in health and care research through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). It is not usual practice for the NIHR to ring-fence a proportion of its budget for research into particular topics or conditions. The NIHR Recovery and Learning Call is currently open to researchers to submit research proposals on patients suffering post-COVID-19 illnesses.The NIHR Recovery and Learning Call will fund research to better understand and manage the health and social care consequences of the global COVID-19 pandemic beyond the acute phase. The research will focus specifically on health outcomes, public health, social care and health service delivery and to mitigate the impact of subsequent phases and aftermath.

Dental Services: Coronavirus

Fleur Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, on what dates the Government has made announcements in the names of the Chief Dental Officer and the General Dental Council on the operation of dental practices since the start of the covid-19 outbreak; and if he will publish the guidance accompanying each of those announcements.

Helen Whately: Holding answer received on 06 July 2020



The Government has made no announcements in the name of the General Dental Council (GDC). The GDC is the body responsible for the regulation of dentists and dental care practitioners in the United Kingdom and is independent of Government.The Chief Dental Officer and NHS England and NHS Improvement have issued a series of letters and guidance notes throughout the pandemic to dental practices. All letters and guidance notes are available on the NHS England and NHS Improvement website and also the GDC’s website.

Hospitals: Dementia

Stuart Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to ensure the (a) safety of patients in hospitals who have been advised to shield and (b) continuity of care for patients in hospitals with dementia and Alzheimer's disease who require personal assistance from relatives or informal carers during and following the covid-19 outbreak.

Helen Whately: National Health Service guidance states that wherever care at home is not possible, providers should ensure safe care for patients who are shielding in infection-controlled clinical settings, in line with the latest infection prevention and control guidance. This guidance includes details on how providers can ensure the safety of patients in hospitals and minimise the risk of infection and can be found at the following link:www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2020/06/C0583-nhs-update-on-shielding-june-2020.pdfNHS England and NHS Improvement’s guidance on ‘Visiting healthcare inpatient settings during the COVID-19 pandemic’ advises that patients, including people with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, may be accompanied in hospital where appropriate and necessary to assist with the patient’s communication and/or to meet the patient’s health or social care needs. This guidance is available at the following link:www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/publication/visitor-guidance/

Social Services: Vacancies

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what most recent estimate he has made of social worker vacancy rates for each local authority in England.

Helen Whately: Holding answer received on 16 July 2020



The data is published on Skills for Care’s website at the following link:https://www.skillsforcare.org.uk/adult-social-care-workforce-data/Workforce-intelligence/publications/local-information/Local-authority-comparison.aspx

Overseas Aid: Females

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 9 July 2020 to Question 63291 on Department of Health and Social Care: Overseas Aid, if he will list the Official Development Assistance funded programmes run by his Department which focus on supporting women and girls; what the budget was for each of those programmes in (a) 2017-18, (b) 2018-19, (c) 2019-20; and what the projected budgets are for 2020-21.

Helen Whately: Holding answer received on 20 July 2020



The Department of Health and Social Care is tackling our most pressing global health challenges through our Official Development Assistance (ODA) funded programmes: Global Health Research, Global Health Security and Tobacco Control. We do not have a specific budget line for women and girls as they are indirect beneficiaries of all our programmes, which are aimed at improving the lives of the poorest people living in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in support of Sustainable Development Goal 3 on Good Health and Wellbeing.In direct support of health issues affecting women and girls, the Department of Health and Social Care has committed up to £36 million to high-quality research projects which address reproductive, maternal and neonatal health in LMICs, through its Global Health Research Programme.All UK Aid spend is published by the Department for International Development in the form of Statistics on International Development and is available on GOV.UK. Fuller details of the Department of Health and Social Care’s global health research funding portfolio are available on the NIHR website at the following link:www.nihr.ac.uk/globalhealth

Hospitals: Discharges

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the average number of people per day was that experienced a delayed discharge from hospital for (a) April, (b) May and (c) June 2020; and what the reason was for the delayed discharge.

Helen Whately: Holding answer received on 20 July 2020



This data is not available.

Social Services: Vacancies

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate has he made of the number of social care job vacancies in each region of the UK.

Helen Whately: The information is shown in the attached table.This is the latest information available from the Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set (ASC-WDS), taken from local authorities as at September 2018 and from independent sector employees as at March 2019.This data is published on Skills for Care’s website at the following link:https://www.skillsforcare.org.uk/adult-social-care-workforce-data/Workforce-intelligence/publications/Workforce-estimates.aspx

Care Homes: Fees and Charges

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of  the average (a) cost for a week of residential care and (b) weekly payment by local authorities to fund a week of residential care.

Helen Whately: Decisions on the rates paid to providers are a matter for individual local authorities, who have a duty to ensure a sustainable, high-quality adult social care market in their areas.We provided councils with an additional £1.5 billion for adults’ and children’s social care in 2020/21 on top of maintaining £2.5 billion of existing social care grants. It includes an additional £1 billion of grant funding for adults’ and children’s social care, and a 2% precept that enables councils to access a further £500 million for adult social care.

Multiple Sclerosis: Health Services

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he plans to take to implement the recommendations of the report, The Forgotten Many: A 2020 Vision for Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis, published in June 2020.

Helen Whately: Holding answer received on 20 July 2020



‘The Forgotten Many: A 2020 Vision for Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis’, was published in June 2020 and was funded by Novartis.The report sets out a wide range of recommendations for NHS England and NHS Improvement and local commissioners around awareness, treatment pathways and support. NHS England and NHS Improvement are aware of the report, and a range of activity is underway to improve awareness, treatment, care and support for people neurological conditions, including secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS), which are relevant to the recommendations.

Disability: Coronavirus

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to issue guidance on minimising the risk of covid-19 infection in disability transport service settings.

Helen Whately: The Government continues to publish a range of guidance on minimising the risk of COVID-19 infection in specific settings which includes support and services for disabled people.The Department commissioned the Social Care Institute for Excellence to publish guidance on delivering safe, face-to-face adult day care which includes advice on transport services which is available at the following link:https://www.scie.org.uk/care-providers/coronavirus-covid-19/day-care/safe-delivery/practical-informationThe Department for Transport has published guidance for transport providers and users which outlines measures to assess and address the risks of COVID-19.Guidance for transport providers is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-safer-transport-guidance-for-operators/coronavirus-covid-19-safer-transport-guidance-for-operatorsGuidance for transport users is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-safer-travel-guidance-for-passengersGuidance for using private cars and other vehicles is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-safer-travel-guidance-for-passengers#private-cars-and-other-vehicles

Care Homes: Coronavirus

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that care homes are fully prepared for a potential second wave of covid-19 in autumn 2020.

Helen Whately: Since the start of this pandemic, we have been working closely with the sector and public health experts to put in place guidance and support for adult social care.The Social Care Sector COVID-19 Taskforce will give advice on what measures need to be in place across all parts of the care sector in England to respond to COVID-19 over the coming months, and for winter. We will draw on this advise in providing guidance to support the sector for a potential second wave before winter.

Palliative Care: Coronavirus

Christian Wakeford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what additional support he plans to provide for end-of-life care in community settings to support families and carers in (a) Bury South constituency and (b) England during the covid-19 outbreak.

Helen Whately: The funding and commissioning of end-of-life care is a local matter, over which individual clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) have responsibility. CCGs are best placed to understand the needs of local populations and to commission services accordingly. During the pandemic, a range of additional support for end-of-life care in community settings has been put in place. This is to help commissioners and clinicians support patients with palliative and end-of-life care needs, as well as their families and carers.

Medicines and Medical Devices Bill

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Government is taking to work with (a) the life sciences industry and (b) experts in radioligand therapy in relation to the development of secondary legislation to enact the provisions of the Medicines and Medical Devices Bill.

Helen Whately: Holding answer received on 21 July 2020



The Department has held a number of engagement events with over 150 representatives from the life sciences industry on the Medicines and Medical Devices Bill and we will continue to work collaboratively with the sector when making secondary legislation. The powers in the Medicines and Medical Devices Bill are subject to a duty to consult and therefore before making any regulations, the Department will consult with those considered appropriate. This will include the life sciences industry and expert stakeholders if they were to be affected by the proposed change.

Nurses: Training

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to protect (a) mental health and (b) learning disability nursing routes.

Helen Whately: In December 2019, the Government announced that from September 2020, all eligible new and continuing nursing and midwifery and Allied Health Profession students on pre-registration courses at English universities will receive additional funding of at least £5,000 a year.There will be up to a further £3,000 to support eligible students including an additional £1,000 to support those studying a shortage specialism which includes new students on mental health nursing and learning disability nursing courses.The latest Universities and Colleges Admissions Service statistics show that the number of unique applications for nursing and midwifery courses are up 16% year-on-year - reaching 47,320 by the end of June.

Higher Education: Nurses

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many applications have been received for traditional higher education self-funding degree programmes for nursing in 2020 to date.

Helen Whately: The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) publishes information on the number of applications to nursing courses throughout the application cycle.The latest data as at the 30 June 2020 application deadline shows there were 47,320 unique applicants to the B7 category of courses, which includes both nursing and midwifery, at English providers.The UCAS figures are published at the following link:https://www.ucas.com/data-and-analysis/undergraduate-statistics-and-reports/ucas-undergraduate-releases/applicant-releases-2020/2020-cycle-applicant-figures-30-june-deadlineStudents on these courses normally finance their studies via the student finance system. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/student-finance

Nurses: Training

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the King's Fund report, Closing the gap: Key areas for action on the health and care workforce, published in March 2020, what recent assessment he has made of the level of attrition during nursing training.

Helen Whately: Health Education England (HEE) is working with higher education institutions to understand and mitigate against attrition building on the Reducing Pre-registration Attrition and Improving Retention (RePAIR) research published in 2018. This is available at the following link:https://healtheducationengland.sharepoint.com/:b:/g/Comms/Digital/EeNMV6yMRllLgk3zKaV8nlMBi78dT-8MUwvJXJ8uAMyfCg?e=b1VIyYThe RePAIR programme identified financial support as the most significant concern amongst students who were considering leaving their course in all years of study. In December 2019, the Government announced that from September 2020, all eligible new and continuing nursing and midwifery and Allied Health Profession students on pre-registration courses at English universities will receive additional funding of at least £5,000 a year. There will be up to a further £3,000 to support eligible students with childcare costs, for students studying specialist subjects or in an area struggling to recruit.

Nurses: Training

Karin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of providing more flexible bridging programmes to enable NHS staff to meet the entry requirements for (a) nursing and (b) nursing associate programmes.

Helen Whately: Individual higher education institutions provide access courses for students who may wish to study for a pre-registration nursing degreeHealth Education England has been working with National Health Service employers and education providers, including further education colleges, to enable individuals that do not hold entry requirements such as Functional Level Mathematics or English Language to undertake these qualifications to enable successful entry onto Nursing Associate training programmes.Individuals who successfully complete the Nursing Associate programme can access a two-year apprentice pathway to become Registered Nurses.

Continuing Care: Clinical Commissioning Groups

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will place in the Library the recovery plan guidance for NHS Continuing Healthcare which is being provided to clinical commissioning groups.

Helen Whately: Holding answer received on 21 July 2020



During the COVID-19 emergency period, National Health Service Continuing Healthcare (CHC) assessments have not been required due to changes made under section 14 of the Coronavirus Act 2020. The Secretary of State is keeping measures under review. The Department is working closely with NHS England and NHS Improvement to agree a date for the resumption of CHC assessments. On agreement, restart guidance will be published and shared with clinical commissioning groups.

Coronavirus: Disability

Andrea Jenkyns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to ONS statistical release, Coronavirus (COVID-19) related deaths by disability status, England and Wales: 2 March to 15 May 2020, if his Department will make an assessment of the reasons for the higher death rate from covid-19 among disabled women.

Helen Whately: We know that many people with long standing, limiting illnesses or health conditions are at higher risk of poorer outcomes from COVID-19.The survey analysis undertaken by the Office for National Statistics is provisional. We will continue to review all available evidence regarding the impact of COVID-19 for disabled people, including disabled women, and we are commissioning new research to better understand the specific impacts. This evidence will inform policy development going forwards.

Continuing Care: Finance

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether it is his policy that clinical commissioning groups follow the emergency discharge guidance for funding people who have a new or enhanced care package; and whether under the emergency discharge guidance funding lasts for the duration of the emergency period.

Helen Whately: Holding answer received on 22 July 2020



On 19 March the Department published Hospital Discharge Service Requirements, in partnership with NHS England, which applies to clinical commissioning groups (CCGs). This is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-hospital-discharge-service-requirements

Continuing Care: Finance

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance clinical commissioning groups should follow on funding for treatment of people with a new or enhanced care package who are discharged under emergency procedures during the covid-19 outbreak; and for what time period that funding should be available.

Helen Whately: Holding answer received on 22 July 2020



On 19 March the Department published Hospital Discharge Service Requirements, in partnership with NHS England, which applies to clinical commissioning groups (CCGs). This is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-hospital-discharge-service-requirements

Care Homes: Coronavirus

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to publish guidance on family visits to residential care homes as covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.

Helen Whately: The Government published guidance on visiting care homes during the COVID-19 pandemic on 22 July 2020. This guidance is available on GOV.UK at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visiting-care-homes-during-coronavirus

Social Services: Staff

Sally-Ann Hart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure adequate staffing levels in the social care sector after the transition period.

Helen Whately: It is the Government’s ambition to recruit more people into social care to meet the future needs of society. In the short term, in order to attract people into social care now, we launched a new national recruitment campaign, ‘Care for others; Make a difference’, which ran across broadcast, digital and social media. We have also launched a new online platform to fast-track recruitment into the adult social care sector, which sits alongside the many local initiatives that have been put in place to recruit staff.The new Health and Care visa will make it cheaper, quicker and easier for eligible social care professionals such as social workers, occupational therapists and nurses from around the world come to work the United Kingdom. In addition, all social care workers will now be permanently exempt from paying the Immigration Health Surcharge.

Social Services: Finance

Dr Lisa Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his timetable is for concluding cross-party discussions on long-term funding for social care reform to enable the publication of the Green Paper on social care.

Helen Whately: The Government’s number one priority for adult social care is for everyone who relies on care to get the care they need throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.We are committed to bringing forward a plan for social care to ensure that everyone is treated with dignity and respect and to find long term solutions for one of the biggest challenges we face as a society. There are complex questions to address and it is important that we give these issues our full consideration in the light of current circumstances.

Cancer: Mental Health

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what mandatory training is provided for (a) the NHS workforce and (b) healthcare professionals working in oncology on the delivery of mental health assessments for people with cancer.

Helen Whately: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 18 June 2020 to Question 55909.

Disability: Coronavirus

Dame Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will undertake to a review of disabled people’s health outcomes during the covid-19 outbreak.

Helen Whately: The Government is committed to ensuring disabled people receive the support they need during the COVID-19 outbreak and beyond. We know that many people with long-standing, limiting illnesses or health conditions are at higher risk of poorer outcomes from COVID-19.We are continuing to review all the available evidence and commissioning new research to better understand the specific impact of COVID-19 on disabled people. This will inform future policy development and what additional practical measures we can take to protect disabled people.